Ohio lawmaker and vice presidential hopeful J.D. Vance may have cost himself a spot on former President Donald Trump's ticket because he has a healthy beard.
That's according to Mark Caputo, national political reporter for The Bulwark, who spoke Monday with Erin Burnett on CNN's "Outfront."
Caputo, trying to hold back a laugh, said Trump prefers a clean-shaven look.
"Of all things that Donald Trump doesn't really like, it's facial hair," said Caputo. "If you notice, guys around him are clean-shaven."
There's some "buzz" in Trump's order, Caputo said, that if "J.D. Vance doesn't get it, it's because of the beard."
Read also: 'I have to hit pause here': J.D. Vance flips out on NBC's Welker as she fact-checks him
Indeed, Trump's first vice president Mike Pence was also barefaced, and he reportedly told his son Donald Trump Jr. he didn't like his son's facial hair, and felt similarly about beards sported by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
“I’ve heard from some our mutual friends that you don’t love my beard, but given the quarantine, I’d like to know between myself, Ted Cruz, and Rand Paul—who have all grown sort of quarantine beards—whose is best and why?”
This isn't the first time Trump has been linked to an anti-beard stance. A 2016 Washington Post article also revealed he thought people who wanted to be in prominent public-facing positions should look the part.
“Presentation is very important because you’re representing America not only on the national stage but also the international stage, depending on the position,” said Trump transition spokesman Jason Miller said at the time.
Caputo noted Vance would be the third-youngest vice president in history at 40.
"In the end, Trump's got his quirks and he's going to pick who he picks," said Caputo.
Watch the clip below or at this link.
